TORAFU ARCHITECTS

The venue design for the Gio Ponti exhibition "Gio Ponti's Eye: Bridging Boundaries Lightly" was held at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Gallery 3. This exhibition follows the creative trajectory of Ponti, a leading architect of 20th-century Italian modernism, showcasing his widely diverse designs spanning architecture, furniture, products, and graphics.

Following the style of his own residence and studio, an obelisk, paying homage to architectural art, was placed near the entrance. On the front wall, a large panel reviewing his approximately 60-year career alongside actual works was installed using a translucent membrane, allowing graphics and objects to coexist on a flat plane and providing visitors with a visual experience of his multifaceted creativity. On the panel, we arranged year numbers along with designs symbolizing each era, incorporating LED lighting behind them to emphasize the flow of history visually. Additionally, angel motifs studied in the windows of his residence were made into paper cutouts and incorporated as shadow pictures, adding a playful touch to the exhibition. At the back of the venue, a stage paved with tiles used in his residence was set up to display armchairs, a coffee table, and a bookshelf reproduced by Molteni&C. Furthermore, taking advantage of the sloping ceiling, a striped graphic imitating the ceiling of Villa Planchart was applied to the ceiling surface, enveloping the entire venue in vibrant colors characteristic of Ponti.

The designs of Ponti, who handled a wide range of designs from a single spoon to skyscrapers, lightly transcending fields such as architecture, product design, and graphics. Continuously pursuing an "Eye" that integrally grasps from part to whole, Ponti’s works brought a sense of happiness to all. We aimed to create a space that seamlessly crosses genres and scales, embodying Ponti's way of creation.